Neuroscience is the study of the nervous system.

Composed by billions of neurons intimately connected to each other and to other cells in our bodies, the nervous system is an incredibly complex and fascinating system that is involved in the regulation of virtually every single action in the human body and is at the base of who we are and what we do.

The brain is the major organ of the nervous system.

The brain is at the core of our movement and all our thoughts. It is the command center behind the hand extension to grab a glass of water and behind the repeated effortful strides that propel athletes forward. The brain is the command center behind thirstiness and behind our desire to cross the finish line.

It is where our memories are stored and our emotions are processed. The brain is where our sense of self is.

Neuroscience helps us understand brain function in health and disease and can equip us with knowledge to devise strategies to boost our healthspan and well-being.

The brain is an energy-hungry organ. Although making up just 2% of our body mass, the brain is responsible for 20% of the total energy expenditure of our bodies at rest.

Neurons depend almost exclusively on glucose as their primary energy source. However, unlike muscle cells, the uptake of glucose into neurons does not require insulin.

This doesn’t mean that insulin is not important for brain function. In fact, it is now well-established that insulin signaling in the brain plays important roles in regulating human metabolism, and brain insulin resistance can impair mood and cognition.

Brain health is intimately tied to proper glycemic control and insulin signaling.

Because there are no significant glycogen stores in the brain, neurons critically rely on circulating glucose levels to be properly fueled. This renders neurons highly susceptible to both low and high levels of blood glucose, like the ones found during hypo- and hyperglycemic states experienced by people with diabetes.

If left untreated, severe hypoglycemia can result in seizures, unconsciousness, brain damage, and death in a matter of minutes to a few hours.

The neurological consequences of persistent hyperglycemia take longer to develop but are highly debilitating, nonetheless. These include some of the most common diabetes-related complications associated with poor glycemic control, such as retinopathy and loss of eyesight, and neuropathy and the loss of sensation.

Additionally, poor glycemic control linked to diabetes is associated with accelerated cognitive decline and increased risk of developing neurodegenerative disease.

Diabetes is a disease that places a high burden on people diagnosed with it. Living with diabetes requires close monitoring of blood glucose levels, management of diets and insulin dosages, resolving therapy side-effects, and frequent adjustments around both expected and unexpected life events.

It is a disease that demands constant and lifelong self-management. Every single day, people living with diabetes must take hundreds of decisions directly related to their diabetes management. The permanent cognitive load that this entails can result in individuals feeling fatigued and overwhelmed. In addition, the stigma associated with the disease and the strain that diabetes can place on social relationships all lead to a high emotional burden and have a significant impact on the quality of life of people living with diabetes.

These are among the reasons why more than 40% of people living with diabetes report poor levels of psychological well-being and at least moderate levels of diabetes-related distress. It also helps explain why people with diabetes are at a significantly higher risk of developing mental health issues, such as anxiety and depressive disorders.

Left unaddressed, diabetes distress can potentiate the feeling of powerlessness and detachment towards the disease. It can lead diabetics to neglect therapy and disease management, thus exacerbating poor glycemic control, worsening disease outcomes and further deteriorating their mental health.

Positioning mental health care as a central component of diabetes management is critical to improving disease outcomes and the quality of life of people living with diabetes.

It is important to underline that each person’s experience with managing their diabetes is unique. Disease burden is not uniform among everyone living with diabetes. But even in cases where disease burden is high, diabetes distress can be obstructed by firm resilience and effective coping mechanisms – gladly, there are many examples of people with diabetes around the world living a fulfilling life who even use diabetes as a source of mental power to keep pushing their goals and achieve their ambitions.

Great strides keep being made on the neuroscience underpinning ambition, mental resilience, and willpower – and at Dr-Dias.com I want to make this knowledge accessible to everyone.

We can use neuroscience knowledge as building blocks to strengthen our coping mechanisms towards adversity and help us break free of some of the constraints diabetes imposes on us. I firmly believe that this sits at the center of a fulfilling and stronger life.

Exercise is a powerful tool to practice the concepts underpinning the neuroscience of willpower and a proven strategy to boost mental health. At Dr-Dias.com you will find exercise as one of the cogs that link body and mind and helps propel your sense of well-being forward.

Exercise promotes the release of neurotrophic factors that stimulate the growth of blood vessels and blood flow to the brain. Increased brain perfusion induces neurogenesis and boosts neuroplasticity – the formation and refinement of synapses between neurons.

Exercise improves mood. It has protective effects against the development of mental health issues, and also decreases anxiety and depressive symptoms in people suffering from mental health disorders.

People who exercise experience a sense of belonging and purpose, and significantly higher rates of motivation and flow – a rewarding psychological state. Some of these effects are linked to the social interactions and bonding that exercise unlocks.

Exercise is strongly associated with improved sleep quality and leads to improvement in cognition, especially processing speed, memory, and executive function.